systemd: Improper sanitization of invalid XKB layouts descriptions (privilege escalation when custom PolicyKit local authority file used)
Published Oct 28, 2013
5.9
MEDIUMCVSS 2.0
EPSS 0.33%
Description
The SetX11Keyboard function in systemd, when PolicyKit Local Authority (PKLA) is used to change the group permissions on the X Keyboard Extension (XKB) layouts description, allows local users in the group to modify the Xorg X11 Server configuration file and possibly gain privileges via vectors involving "special and control characters."
Affected products
No data.
Configuration 1
- < 194
Configuration 2
- 7.0
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
systemd
Not affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | systemd | Not affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
No remediation recorded yet.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.0 score for this CVE.
AV:L/AC:H/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:P
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 2, 2026.
Score over time
2022–2026- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (9 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2, 2026 | 0.33% (0.00334) | 24.44th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 0.34% (0.00337) | 25.25th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.11% (0.00109) | 26.88th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.07th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.63th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 0.95% (0.00950) | 32.28th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Sep 10, 2022 | 0.95% (0.00950) | 30.63th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 0.95% (0.00950) | 28.61th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 0.95% (0.00950) | 13.46th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (8)
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=725357 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingThird Party Advisory
- http://www.debian.org/security/2013/dsa-2777 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANThird Party Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/10/01/9 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2013-4394 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=862324 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-4394
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201612-34 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_GENTOOThird Party Advisory
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-4394
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=725357 | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingThird Party Advisory | |
| http://www.debian.org/security/2013/dsa-2777 | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANThird Party Advisory | |
| http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/10/01/9 | mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory | |
| https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2013-4394 | Vendor Advisory | |
| https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=862324 | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory | |
| https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-4394 | ||
| https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201612-34 | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_GENTOOThird Party Advisory | |
| https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-4394 |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.